Adjustable coupling.



No. 787,572. I PATENTED APR.18,1905.

' P. HANSMANN.

ADJUSTABLE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1271904.

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ADJUSTABLE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.12, 1904.

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PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

P. HANSMANN. ADJUSTABLE COUPLING.

APPLICATION I'ILED AUG. 12; 1904.

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/'/ A V// ///A UNITED STATES Patented April 18, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

ADJUSTABLE COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,572, dated April 18, 1905.

Application filed August 12, 1904. Serial No. 220,479.

To (LZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, PAUL HANSMANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Long Prairie, inthe county of Todd and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in adjustable couplings designed particularly for connecting the separator and engine; and it consists of a tongue having an improved adjustable connection with the separator, allowing it to be held at any desired angle with said separator.

To this end my invention consists in the fea tures of construction and combination hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention and the connected portions of the separator and engine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation, broken away. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the coupling end of the tongue. a section on line :0 w of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a section on line 3 y of Fig. 4; and Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the coupling end of the tongue, partly broken away.

In the drawings, A represents the front axle of a separator or other similar machine, and B represents the traction engine or tender. Pivotally connected with the axle A by links 2 is a cross-bar 3. A tongue 4 is pivoted centrally upon the cross-bar 3 by a pivot 5. order to turn the tongue 4 to any desired angle with the separator and to hold it in such position, I provide the following parts: EX- tending forwardly from the cross-bar 3 is a fixed tongue 6, connected with the cross-bar by suitable braces 7. The end of said fixed tongue carries a double cam 8, over which passes a cable 9, connected at its ends by links 10 with the opposite ends of the cross-bar 3. The cable is intermediately wound around a drum 11, having pivotal support 12 in the longitudinal horizontal opening 13 in the tongue 4. The supporting-spindle 12 of the drum carries above the tongue a worm-wheel 14, which intermeshes with a worm 15, having journal-support across the top of the Fig. 5 is tongue. The worm 15 is provided with an actuating-handle 16 and is also connected by the beveled gears 17 and 18 with a shaft 19,

having universal connection 20 with an actu-- ating-rod 21, having support 22 upon the en-.

gine or tender. In order to hold the adjustable and fixed tongues in alinement, I provide a pin 23, adapted to be passed through corresponding openings 24 in the tongues. The opposite end of the adjustable tongue is provided with jaws 25 and 26. Said jaws are formed with registering openings 27, through which passes a pin 28. The pin 28 is loosely supported by a rod 29, having fulcrum-support 30 and a downwardly-projecting rear end 31. The end 31 of the rod has loose slotand-pin connection 32 with the rear end of a block 33, slidable between the jaws at the rear of the pin. A coil-spring 34 at the rear of the block tends normally to force it forward. In order to hold the block in the rear position, (shown in Fig. 5,) I provide a pin 35, arranged to pass into registering openings 36 in the upper side of the tongue and block. The pin has pivotal support 37 in the end of a lever 38, the lever having fulcrum-support 39 upon the top of the tongue. A controlling-spring 40 is interposed between the lever and tongue at the rear of its fulcrum-support 39. The tender or engine carries a suitable yoke 41, within which is secured a ring 42. As shown in Fig. 5, the block 33 slides in the four sides of the tongue,

so as to prevent the ring 42 being caught between the slidable block and adjacent stationary parts. I

In operation, the lever 38 being turned to lift the pin 35, the spring 34 will force the block 33 forwarchlifti'ng the coupling-pin through the lever 29. The engine then being backed to carry the coupling-ring 42 against the block will force the block to the rear, carrying the pin back into coupling position and allowing the pin 35 to drop into the registering openings in the tongue and block to hold the parts coupled, as shown inFig. 6.

When it is desired to make a short turn of the separator or to turn it to one side in order to avoid obstructions in the road, the bolt 23 will be removed and the handle 16 or rod 21 turned. This will turn the winding-drum to cause turning of the adjustable tongue upon its support 5. I am aware that intermeshing gear and other constructions are used for turning a tongue for this purpose; but in my construction the cable form of adjustment has many advantages that an intermeshing-gear construction does not possess. The cams 8 keep the cable taut and help in holding the tongue in adjusted positions. Furthermore, when the adjustable tongue and fixed tongue are in alinement the cable passing rearwardly upon opposite sides of the double cam tends to hold the tongues in such alinement. By means of the cable adjustment a very large drum, if desired, may be used, thus necessitating the minimum power to turn the tongue.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A coupler of the class described, consisting of a cross-bar, a tongue having pivotal support thereon, a fixed tongue connected with said cross-bar in line with said pivotallysupported tongue, a drum carried by said pivotally-supported tongue, and a cable carried by said drum and extending around the end gt said fixed tongue to the ends of said cross- 2. In combination with across-bar, a tongue having pivotal connection thereto, a fixed tongue connected with said cross-bar in line with said pivoted tongue, a winding-drum carried by said pivoted tongue, a cable carried by said winding-drum and connected with the opposite ends of the cross-bar, and a double cam carried by the end of said fixed tongue and engaging with said cable.

3. In combination a cross-bar, a tongue pivotall y connectedtherewith, a fixed tongue connected with said cross-bar in line with said pivoted tongue, a drum carried by said pivoted tongue, a worm-wheel carried by said drum, a worm intermeshing with said wheel, an actuating-handle for said worm, a cable carried by said drum and connecting the opposite ends of said cross-bar, and a double cam carried by said fixed tongue and engaging with said cable.

4. In combination a cross-bar, a tongue having pivotal connection therewith, a tongue having fixed connection with said cross-bar in line withsaid pivoted tongue, adrum carried by said pivoted tongue, a worm-wheel carried by said drum, a worm intermeshing with said wheel, actuating means for-said worm, a cable carried by said drum and connected with the opposite ends of said cross-bar, a double cam carried by the end of said fixed tongue and engaging with said cable, and a pin fitted to registering openings in said tongues.

5. In combinationacross-bar, atongue having pivotal connection therewith, a tongue having fixed connection at one end with said cross-bar in line with said pivoted tongue, and means for detachable connection at its other end with an engine-platform, a drum carried by said pivoted tongue, a worm-wheel carried by said drum, a worm intermeshing with said wheel, a beveled gear connected with said worm, a rod carrying at one end a bevel-gear intermeshing with the bevel-gear carried by said Worm, and an actuating-handle for said rod mounted upon said engine-platform.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

PAUL HAN SMANN.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR P. LOTHROP, EMILY F. OTIS. 

